These systems are a little different to installing a standard kitchen mixer because the tap is only one part of the setup. Depending on the model, there can be an under-bench unit, filtration, water supply, isolation valves, drainage, ventilation requirements and a sparkling water connection that all need to work together.
Before we start cutting holes or connecting pipework, we look at the cabinet space, the location of the sink, the existing water supply and the particular Zip or Billi unit being installed. That matters because some kitchens have plenty of room under the bench, while others are already packed with bins, drawers, waste pipes, dishwashers or other equipment.
There is no point squeezing a unit into a space where filters cannot be changed later or the equipment cannot be accessed for servicing. We prefer to think about how the installation will work once the kitchen is actually being used, not just whether we can physically fit everything into the cabinet on the day.
A new Zip tap installation or Billi tap installation normally starts with confirming the water connection and where the under-bench equipment can sit. The pipework needs to be arranged neatly and the isolation point should remain accessible so the unit can be shut off when it needs servicing.
If the system requires a drain connection, that also needs to be incorporated into the existing plumbing without creating an awkward arrangement under the sink. Different models have different installation requirements, so we work from the unit being supplied rather than assuming every boiling, chilled or sparkling water system is connected the same way.
Where electrical work is required, we can coordinate that side of the installation through a licensed and registered electrician that regularly subcontracts to us. That means the plumbing and electrical work can be organised together rather than leaving you to source another trade. Our plumbers handle the water supply, drainage and plumbing connections, while the electrical work is completed within the electrician’s licensed scope.
Boiling Water Tap InstallationBoiling water taps are popular because they remove the need to keep filling and waiting for a kettle, but they still need to be installed with some thought. The under-bench unit stores and heats water ready for use, so the surrounding plumbing and cabinet layout need to suit the equipment.
We check the available space and make sure the pipework is not positioned in a way that makes the unit difficult to access later. In a busy office or commercial property, that access becomes even more important because filters and other serviceable components may need regular attention. A unit hidden behind fixed shelving or crammed into a cabinet can turn a straightforward maintenance job into a much bigger exercise later on.
Chilled water systems work in a similar way in the sense that the tap relies on the equipment installed below the bench. The plumbing connection supplies the unit, the water is treated or cooled depending on the model, and the finished tap gives the user access at the sink or bench.
When a customer wants boiling and chilled water from the same system, we need to make sure the installation has been planned around the complete unit rather than treating each function as a separate tap. This is particularly common in office kitchens, boardrooms, staff rooms and renovated homes where bench space is limited and the owner wants fewer appliances sitting on the counter.
Sparkling water units add another part to the installation because the system needs to accommodate the components used to carbonate the water. If you are specifically looking for sparkling water tap installation, the exact setup depends on the model and the space available below the bench.
We take the same approach by checking the equipment being installed and making sure the plumbing side is practical for future access. A sparkling function can be included with boiling and chilled water on some systems, while other installations are set up around the particular drinking water options the property actually needs.
We do not assume the most complicated unit is automatically the best choice. A home that mainly wants filtered chilled water and instant boiling water has different needs to a large office where dozens of people may be using the tap throughout the day.
Filtered water is a big part of many Zip and Billi systems. The filter sits within the overall setup and needs to remain accessible for replacement, which is another reason cabinet layout matters.
We also look at the existing water supply and the way the plumbing is arranged before connecting the unit. If there are existing problems with water pressure, old isolation valves or pipework that is already leaking, it makes more sense to deal with those issues while the area is accessible than to connect a new appliance onto plumbing that is already giving trouble.
Some properties already have an older Zip, Billi or similar drinking water unit and simply want it replaced. Replacement work can be fairly straightforward when the new system suits the existing cabinet and connection points, but that is not always the case.
Different units can have different footprints, filter positions, pipework arrangements and drainage requirements. We check what is already there and compare it with the new equipment rather than assuming the old connections can all be reused exactly as they are.
Older installations may also have been modified over the years as filters, taps or units have been changed, so sometimes the plumbing under the bench needs tidying up as part of the replacement.
Renovations are a good time to plan a Zip or Billi installation because the cabinet, sink and services can be arranged around the unit before everything is finished.
If the kitchen joinery is still being designed, we can look at where the equipment is intended to go and help identify the plumbing access that will be needed. It is much easier to account for water, drainage and usable cabinet space before the stone top and cabinetry are complete than to discover afterwards that the chosen unit has nowhere practical to sit.
The same applies to commercial fit-outs where plumbers, electricians, cabinet makers and other trades are all working around the same kitchen or staff area. A little coordination early on can save a lot of unnecessary changes later.
In existing kitchens, installation usually means working with the space that is already available. We look at what is under the sink, how the cabinet is constructed and whether there is a sensible route for the water connection and any drainage required by the system.
Sometimes a unit fits comfortably into the existing layout. Other times bins, shelving or pipework may need to be reconsidered before the drinking water system can be installed properly. We would rather point that out before the installation begins than force the equipment into a space that is going to cause problems every time it needs servicing.
Water pressure can affect drinking water appliances just as it affects other plumbing fixtures. If the pressure is unusually high or low, that may need to be looked at before the unit is connected.
We do not want to install a new Zip or Billi system and ignore an existing pressure issue that could affect how the plumbing around it behaves. The condition of the isolation valve and supply pipework also matters because these parts will be used whenever the appliance needs to be serviced or disconnected.
If the existing valve is seized, leaking or in poor condition, it may need attention as part of the installation rather than being left behind the new equipment.
Drainage is another area that can get overlooked when people are planning the appliance. Where the selected system requires a drain connection, the waste pipework needs to be arranged properly and remain accessible.
Under-sink cabinets already tend to be busy spaces, particularly when there is a dishwasher, food waste unit or double-bowl sink installed nearby. We look at the plumbing as a whole so the new unit is not connected in a way that makes the existing sink drainage difficult to maintain.
This is especially useful during kitchen and laundry renovation work where several appliances and fixtures may be changing at the same time.
Commercial Zip and Billi tap installation can involve a different level of use to a normal household system. An office kitchen might have staff using boiling and chilled water throughout the day, while a showroom, medical facility, school staff room or larger workplace may have several people using the tap in a short period.
The unit selected needs to suit that demand, and the plumbing installation needs to allow the equipment to be accessed and maintained without pulling the surrounding kitchen apart.
On commercial jobs, we also coordinate our work around the other services and the way the premises operate, particularly where the installation forms part of a fit-out or upgrade rather than a completely new build.
Hospitality and commercial kitchen environments can use filtered boiling or chilled water for different purposes, but the layout needs to make sense for the way staff actually move through the space.
A tap that looks good on a drawing can still be awkward if it has been positioned in the middle of a busy preparation area or if the under-bench unit takes over storage that the kitchen relies on.
The plumbing side is only one part of a practical installation, so where we are involved early enough we look at the location in the context of the surrounding sink, bench and equipment.
Homes have their own considerations. A Zip or Billi tap is often added during a kitchen renovation, but it can also be installed into an existing kitchen where the owner wants filtered boiling, chilled or sparkling water without several appliances on the bench.
Families may use the tap differently to an office, so the model and functions chosen should suit the household rather than simply copying what someone else has installed.
Our job is not to sell every available feature. We focus on getting the plumbing installation right for the unit the customer has chosen and making sure the surrounding connections are set up sensibly.
Once the plumbing connections are complete, the unit needs to be set up and checked in accordance with the requirements that apply to the model being installed.
We check the plumbing connections for leaks and make sure the water supply and drainage on our side of the installation are working as intended. Where another trade is involved, such as electrical work, that part needs to be completed within their own licensed scope.
We are comfortable coordinating with electricians, builders and cabinet makers on renovation and commercial fit-out work so everyone knows where their part of the installation starts and finishes.
Ongoing maintenance should also be thought about from the beginning. Filters need changing, equipment may eventually need servicing and sparkling systems may have components that need to be accessed from time to time.
An installation that looks neat but blocks access to everything underneath the bench usually becomes frustrating later. We try to leave the plumbing organised so the customer or service technician can get to the unit, isolation valve and filters without dismantling half the cabinet.
If a Zip or Billi unit has started leaking, is being replaced or the customer is upgrading to a different model, we can also look at the existing plumbing and determine what can reasonably stay and what needs to change.
Not every replacement requires completely new pipework, but older connections should not automatically be reused just because they happen to be there. We look for leaks, deteriorated hoses, poorly positioned valves and previous alterations that may be worth fixing while the old unit is out of the way.
Zip and Billi taps can also sit alongside other water filtration systems in a property, particularly in homes and commercial sites that already have whole-house or under-sink filtration.
If there is existing filtration equipment, it is worth understanding how the systems are arranged before adding another unit. The aim is to avoid unnecessary duplication or a collection of filters and valves under the sink that nobody can identify later.
Where a customer is looking at a broader water filtration upgrade as well as a new drinking water tap, we can consider the plumbing around both services together.
Heritage Plumbing Group installs Zip and Billi taps across Melbourne as part of residential kitchen upgrades, commercial fit-outs, workplace improvements and appliance replacement work.
Michael and Adrian have spent enough time on plumbing jobs to know that these installations usually go better when someone looks under the bench before everyone gets excited about the tap on top of it.
The finished tap is the part you see every day, but the water supply, filtration, drainage, isolation valves and equipment underneath are what keep the system practical to use and maintain.
We focus on getting those parts right and leaving the installation in a way that makes sense for the property.
For Melbourne homes and businesses planning a Zip tap installation, Billi tap installation or a boiling, chilled and sparkling water unit, we can assess the existing plumbing, work with the equipment being installed and complete the plumbing connections around the way the kitchen or workplace is actually set up.
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